I didn't see this posted anywhere, but the 3DS has achieved a milestone that should be recognized!

Here it is:

3DS Hardware Shipments to Retailers as of September 30th, 2013:
34,980,000 units

N64 Hardware Shipments to Retailers as of September 30th, 2013:
32,930,000 units

3DS Software Shipments to Retailers as of September 30th, 2013:
122,420,000 units

N64 Software Shipments to Retailers as of September 30th, 2013:
224,970,000 units

With the most recent quarterly announcements, it's official: 3DS has now surpassed the Nintendo 64. Sometimes we tend to forget how successful the 3DS has been since its launch. In only 2 and 1/2 years of being on the market the 3DS has managed to sell more consoles than the Nintendo 64 was able to sell throughout its entire five-year lifespan.

The next milestone for the 3DS is SNES shipments at 49.1 million. Considering the 3DS hit 34.98 million in only 2 and 1/2 years, it's safe to say that 3DS will easily surpass SNES by the time it's taken off the market.

However, the 3DS's success has a double-edged sword. Although it may have sold more hardware, the N64 has moved twice the amount of software sales.

The software issue is definitely one to watch, especially the marginal numbers in future months/years. People may have bought their 3DS for a particular game (e.g., Animal Crossing), but when they consider future software purchases, they may be looking elsewhere.

It was weird when I discovered how poorly N64 sold relative to PS1. When I was a kid everyone had an N64. I don't remember any of my friends having Playstation.

I still can't process it. Everyone I know, whether they still play games or not, has enjoyed Mario Kart 64 or Goldeneye at some point.

I have a theory that the N64 did outsell the Playstation but time travel was involved and flipped the sales the other way. Though everyone still has some residual memory of owning an N64 and enjoying Mario Kart 64.

Good for the 3DS. 2013 3DS has been one of those legendary, magical years for a platform in terms of games. It's been non-stop great game after great game, almost reminds me of 1994 SNES. Hope it keeps on trucking along.

Nintendo 64 was fairly competitive in America I think. It didn't sell well internationally and tapered off due to lack of support.

I seem to recall the N64 being marketed very much as a hardcore/adults gaming console here in the UK, as opposed to the cheap and cheerful PlayStation. As absolutely incredible that may sound. Games like Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Turok, Conker and even Mario Kart really sold it in that sense. I mean hell, Conker's Bad Fur Day is pretty much the most British game ever made, and it's a hard 18.

Even the N64 magazines, such as the amazing n64 mag were catered very much to an older demographic.

I still can't process it. Everyone I know, whether they still play games or not, has enjoyed Mario Kart 64 or Goldeneye at some point.

I have a theory that the N64 did outsell the Playstation but time travel was involved and flipped the sales the other way. Though everyone still has some residual memory of owning an N64 and enjoying Mario Kart 64.

yeah there is seriously something going on, EVERYONE I knew had an N64, and I knew a lot of people growing up

At the end of it, the 3DS software shipment figures being relatively low should not be a surprise. Stuff like Steamworld Dig, Mutant Mudds, Jett Rocket II or Pushmo to name just a few would have been retail games in the past. The DS and the Wii both had digital-only games, but because their stores weren't as developed, they didn't really bring much stuff to their platforms that couldn't be found at retail. The eShop is bringing to the 3DS the kind of small- or mid-sized games that aren't being released at retail anymore. If you don't buy eShop games, you're missing out on a lot of high-quality 3DS exclusives.

I do wonder how you could break down sales in America depending on region. We will never have access to that kind of info but my sneaking suspicion is that Nintendo consoles sold better on the west coast than on the east coast. That may explain why some of you didn't notice the difference in sales.

Damn, Gameboy Advance sales are impressive considering it was killed off early because of DS. No wonder Nintendo was making good profits even during the Gamecube era.

I've got to second this. I mean the GBA came out in what? Summer of 2001 and the DS came out in late 2004. It was basically relevant for about 3 years.(And the DS was better at playing GBA games than the original GBA.)

That software situation doesnt look rosy. Massive contraction on publishers even making handheld software since the GBA/DS era probably doesn't help, but still.

Where do people put 3DS lifetime? I'm not convinced it outsells GBA at this current rate, but 2DS may be the booster rocket. Of course who knows what other late model shenanigans they may pull in the vein of a 3DSi.

It was weird when I discovered how poorly N64 sold relative to PS1. When I was a kid everyone had an N64. I don't remember any of my friends having Playstation.

Maybe because... and I hate to say this, but... maybe because you were a kid? I was in my 20s when the N64 was around and I was definitely the only one of my peers who not only owned one, but actively used it. There were maybe 2 or 3 others I knew who owned one but that was purely for multiplayer GoldenEye. Everyone else was full on Playstation, Playstation, Playstation. Of course I was also in the UK at the time, so that's probably an equally large part of it. ^_^